Euromed: EU ready to help decentralization in Maghreb

Diplomatic service chief, Morocco has already applied for aid

(ANSAmed) - Brussels, January 23 - The European Union is
ready to help Maghreb countries implement decentralization
policies, a key issue in reducing domestic socio-economic
differences, said Hungues Mingarelli, the head of the EU
diplomatic service for the southern Mediterranean at the
European Parliament.

'Decentralization can be catastrophic that is why we need
to help' countries in the Maghreb region working on
institutional reforms following the Arab spring, he said. 'In
some EU countries like Italy, decentralization policies have
gone far and this experience needs to be shared', noted
Mingarelli.
'Morocco is decentralizing and has asked for our help and we
have intervened and hope our assistance will give results,' said
the chief of the EU diplomatic service. In practice, he
explained, assistance includes policies like 'twinning
agreements between local governments' on the two shores of the
Mediterranean.

The most significant challenge where Maghreb is concerned
is'the social economic with an increasing number of unemployed
youths and growing frustration', Mingarelli said. 'If we don't
assist the region's countries in re-launching an equal,
sustainable growth this frustration will lead to a return to the
past'. Bilateral cooperation programs should help develop
agriculture, the private sector as well as local governments. In
Maghreb 'there is great disparity among different regions while
democracy needs social cohesion', he said. (ANSAmed).